Category Archives: headline

headline

Beloved deli owner dies with COVID-19 days away from vaccine appointment

The family of a Melbourne man who died from COVID-19 has made an emotional plea to the public to get vaccinated.

Much-loved Richmond trader and deli owner Soner Kurtoglu is believed to have caught the virus from a customer, before passing away last night.

A father of three and a well-known Bridge Road trader, Mr Kurtoglu was just 54 when he died.

READ MORE: Victoria records 1965 new COVID-19 cases, five further deaths

Cengiz Ozdemir, Mr Kurtoglu's brother-in-law, says the family was initially vaccine-hesitant but seeing first-hand how dangerous the virus can be, they have since changed their stance.

"We've been scared of the vaccination, but it is so important to get vaccinated … it does save lives," he said.

"Being against vaccinations isn't going to help anybody.

"We're just going to have kids like this without dads or grandparents."

READ MORE: NSW records 580 COVID-19 cases

Friend Lee Simon has described Mr Kurtoglu as generous and a community man.

"He was generous, friendly, a great sense of community and we're going to miss him," he said.

READ MORE: Questions over 'unclear' roadmap infrastructure ahead of re-opening

The family says Mr Kurtoglu had been hesitant about getting the jab but recently booked an appointment.

Sadly, he never made it.

"It was only two and a half weeks ago… he was here and now he's gone," Sean Heffernan from the Blue Note Cafe said.

READ MORE: Thousands of overseas nurses and doctors to reinforce strained Australian health system

Another friend, Sharon Nevin, said the news was devastating.

"We'd come past every day hoping after 14 days he'd be back and to find out that he had passed away was just heartbreaking," she said.

The man behind Ni-Sa delicatessen, Mr Kurtoglu was famous in Richmond for his warmth and his food.

Mr Kurtoglu died last night in Box Hill Hospital after doctors switched off his ventilator.

headline

The reason why Sydney's water tastes different right now

If you've noticed your tap water is a bit off, you're not alone.

Sydney Water says weather conditions, particularly "recent high winds" around Warragamba Dam have impacted the smell and taste of supply right across the city.

It could take several weeks to settle down, while water sources that supply the filtration plant continue to blend.

READ MORE: NSW records 580 COVID-19 cases as investigations into new Delta strain continue

They organisation have said that they are working closely with Water NSW to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

READ MORE: The Sydney suburb home to more wastewater blockages than any other

Officials have stressed that the water is treated and is still safe to drink.

"Sydney Water advises that the water still meets Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and remains safe to drink," a spokesperson said in a statement.

headline

Chinese President Xi Jinping vows to pursue 'reunification' with Taiwan

Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to pursue "reunification" with Taiwan by peaceful means in a speech in Beijing today.

Speaking in the Great Hall of the People to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the revolution that ended the country's last imperial dynasty, Mr Xi said the biggest obstacle to the reunification of China was the "Taiwan independence" force.

"Those who forget their heritage, betray their motherland and seek to split the country will come to no good," Mr Xi said.

READ MORE: Tony Abbott takes aim at China in Taiwan speech

Taiwan and mainland China have been governed separately since the end of a civil war more than seven decades ago, in which the defeated Nationalists fled to Taipei.

However, Beijing views Taiwan as an inseparable part of its territory – even though the Chinese Communist Party has never governed the democratic island of about 24 million people.

Mr Xi's speech came a day ahead of the official anniversary of the Wuchang Uprising on October 10, which is celebrated as National Day in Taiwan.

Mr Xi said today he wanted to see peaceful reunification occur under a "one country two systems" policy, similar to that used in Hong Kong.

However, the system of government is generally opposed by Taiwan.

In his speech, Mr Xi added the Taiwan issue is one of internal affairs for China and "allows no interference from outside."

"People should not underestimate Chinese people's determination to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The task of complete reunification of China must be achieved, and it will definitely be achieved," he said.

The speech comes amid rising military tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

Over four days in early October, the Chinese military flew almost 150 fighter jets, nuclear-capable bombers, anti-submarine aircraft and airborne early warning and control planes into Taiwan's Air Defence Identification Zone, according to the island's Defence Ministry.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said at a security forum in Taipei yesterday that although her government did not seek military conflict, "Taiwan will also do whatever it takes to defend its freedom and democratic way of life."

It came after Taiwan Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told journalists on Wednesday that China could be capable of mounting a "full-scale" invasion of the island by 2025.

While Xi made no mention of the use of military force in his Saturday speech, he has previously refused to rule it out.

However his latest remarks were less inflammatory than comments he made on July 1 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party's founding, in which he vowed to "utterly defeat" any supporters of Taiwan independence.